I was in Seattle during Ophelia but made some preparations prior to leaving just in case. When the strike became imminent, Ron Turner, my neighbor, further secured the three boats at my pier. Thanks to these efforts, damage was minimal, consisting mostly of some minor pier damage due to the days-long easterly that blew along the mile-long fetch up Broad Creek (breaking waves). I think the highest wind velocities recorded locally were in the 60+ mph range.
Oriental is ground zero for many east coast hurricanes and most sailors here know how to deal with them as a matter of (almost) routine. By far, the boats that suffer the most hull damage are the ones that remain in their slips instead of anchoring out. Most damage occurs to sails that are left topsides, especially furling headsails. It matters not whether these are "secured" by wrapping sheets or lines around them as the top two-thirds are still destroyed. In checking around the local marinas after Ophelia there were several boats at each where the furling sails were in shreds. While it's a bit of a bother, take the furling sails down first before the wind gets up too high. The shock loads on chainplates, standing rigging, and mast steps often causes serious damage so it's not the sail alone that suffers as it destroys itself.
As for anchoring, two substantial anchors are sufficient if you have decent chafing gear that you know works. I personally think secret to successful anchoring is an ample amount of heavy chain. It is the sheer weight of the chain, not the tensile strength, that matters here. On Rhiannon I use a 22 lb Bruce on 100 feet of 3/8" chain (with a 3/4" nylon snubber -- moused), and a 12-lb Danforth with 30 ft of 3/8" chain and 100 feet of 5/8" nylon rode. I equalize the lengths of both rodes so they work together most of the time (approx. 100 ft out in 7 ft depth). Neither has ever dragged (I hope Murphy isn't listening). Deploying the anchors properly is the important to their holding. Many people are too quick to back down on the anchor before it can get a proper grip on the bottom. Others foul their anchor by piling the chain on top of it in their haste to get ground tackle deployed. Before getting the Bruce I used two 12 lb Danforths rigged as above and never dragged during any hurricane since 1982, two of which I stayed aboard for the duration (Gloria in 1985 - 130 mph, and Gordon in 1994 - 90+ mph).
Despite my own admonition to anchor out, all three boats at my pier were in their respective slips. I was simply too far away to do anything differently. Ron and I use a nicely engineered dockline system that effectively eliminates chafe and these work very well, keeping the boats safely secured in their slips during extreme water depth excursions. I would only stay in a slip during a minor blow like Ophelia, though.
Most of my worries come from the other boats anchoring around me. As I write there's a 40 ft Tayana ketch in the woods down the creek from my home and I understand there are a few more boats onshore (read high and dry) around this area. If an oyster crusher like this blows down on you at the height of a storm then it's probably good bye boat unless the loose boat doesn't foul on anything and continues along its way.
So, here's watching Rita and hoping the mayor of NO and the governor of LA somehow develop some common sense while it's heading their way. They sure haven't shown much to date.
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Qt50
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